during chuck hagel's confirmation process for defense secretary, cruz expressed alarm for hagel's support for the nomination and wondered if he had be paid by foreign governments including north korea. >> i don't know if mr. hagel received funds directly or indirectly from foreign sources, extreme sources. but his refusal to provide disclosure. >> senator cruz has gone over the line. he has impugned the patriotism of the nominee. >> cruz denied that insisting he was asking questions. even john mccain who opposing hagel's nomination didn't buy it. >> senator hagel is an honorable man. he has served his country, and no up with on this committee at any time should impugn his character or integrity. >> that only had another liberal piling on cruz. >> this guilt by association reminds us of senator joe mccarthy. >> they see cruz as -- [ inaudible ] cruz, whose father was fortured in castro cuba is seen as charismatic hispanic of princeton and can help the g.o.p. appeal to minorities. cruz made his presence felt in a short time by the senate stap dards. the attack proof of his short-term impact